Emma
Emma
Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England; she also creates a lively comedy of manners.
Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the very first sentence she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich." Emma, however, is also spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination often leads her astray. (Summary by Wikipedia and Kara)
Emma is a novel by British writer Jane Austen. The protagonist of the work, Emma, is a beautiful, intelligent and rich girl, but also a full-fledged fantasist. She is passionate about the romantic stories around her, but stubbornly believes that she will never fall into them. She took it upon herself to direct one love affair after another for the orphan harriet. When Harriet mistakenly believes that she is in love with the magistrate Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes that she is also in love with Mr. Knightley. Although this is contrary to her vow of never marrying for life, she has to give up her naïve vows when she falls in love.
Emma is the youngest daughter of Mr. Woodhouse, the richest man in Highbury Village, who is intelligent and beautiful, and has been well educated by her governess, Miss Taylor, since childhood. Her father's pampering and carefree living environment have enabled her to develop a pretentious personality. When Emma was twenty years old, Miss Taylor married a nearby gentleman, Weston, and left the Woodhouse house, and Emma met Harriet, a student at the local girls' school, in her loneliness, and befriended her. Harriet is an illegitimate daughter, beautiful, docile, very cute. Emma managed to match her with the young gentleman Elton, and told her to reject the marriage proposal of her tenant Robert Martin.
In fact, Elton's crush is not Harriet, but Emma herself. Elton himself was very snobbish and would not have looked up to the unknown Harriet. Emma unsuccessfully arranged a family affair for Harriet, and this time she chose Frank, the son of Weston's ex-wife, for Harriet. Half a year ago, however, Frank met Jane Fairfax, the niece of Miss Bates, who had fallen in the middle of the Village of Hebury, and fell in love with each other and secretly engaged in a marriage contract. But the two did not announce the marriage contract. Emma's interference in someone else's marriage caused resentment among her old friend, George Knightley. He warned Emma that both parties should be allowed to handle the marriage matters autonomously, and that the intervention of others would only make things worse.
When Frank and Jane Fairfax announce their relationship, Emma is in disbelief. This also led Emma to reflect on her actions and eventually became close friends with Jane Fairfax.
Knightley valued Robert Martin and often helped Harriet, which led harriet to have a feeling of reverence and admiration for Knightley. When Emma discovers that the object of Harriet's worship is Knightley, she is shocked, and it turns out that she herself has been quietly in love with Knightley; Knightley often points out Emma's shortcomings, but in fact, she is also interested in her in her heart. Miss Taylor gave birth to a daughter, which caused Emma to yearn for family life. After some twists and turns, Knightley and Emma finally confide in each other; Robert Martin, with Knightley's help, finally got Harriet's love.
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CHAPTER I
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.